In a blink of an eye, the semifinals of the ASEAN U-23 Championship -- officially known as the ASEAN U-23 Mandiri Cup -- are here.
On Tuesday, the group-stage action concluded with four teams marching on to the knockout round: Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand.
The qualification picture was trickier than usual given Group A had a full complement of four teams, while Groups B and C had just three each.
This meant that only the group winners were guaranteed a semifinal berth, with the best-performing runners-up the the fourth team to advance.
Given the uneven number of teams, results against the bottom side in Group A were not taken into account in the final ranking of second-placed teams.
After a gruelling group-stage campaign, we look back at how the quartet sealed their places in the last four.
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Group tiebreakers
Group points
Points from game(s) between the tied teams
Goal difference from game(s) between the tied teams
Goals scored from game(s) between the tied teams
If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams
Overall group goal difference
Overall group goals scored
If only two teams are level and have played each other in the final group game, a penalty shootout determines places
Disciplinary points (Yellow card: -1 point; indirect red card: -3 points; direct red card: -3 points)
Drawing of lots
Runners-up ranking tiebreakers
Points
Goal difference
Goals scored
Wins
Disciplinary points
Drawing of lots
GROUP A
Tuesday, July 15
Malaysia 0-2 Philippines
Indonesia 8-0 Brunei Darussalam
Friday, July 18
Brunei Darussalam 1-7 Malaysia
Philippines 0-1 Indonesia
Monday, July 21
Indonesia 0-0 Malaysia
Philippines 2-0 Brunei Darussalam
With Group A being the only with four teams, there was initially a plethora of qualification scenarios heading into Monday's final set of fixtures -- including one where leaders and hosts Indonesia could slip to third and completely miss out via a three-way tie for top spot.
Ultimately, the permutation experts from the advanced mathematics department were not needed.
With a 0-0 draw against Malaysia, Indonesia got the point they needed to guarantee a first-place finish. They became the first team through to the last four and the manner in which they accomplished it should taste even sweeter given they eliminated their bitter rivals in the process.
Instead, it was Philippines who deservedly finished second as they moved clear of Malaysia with a 2-0 victory over bottom side Brunei Darussalam.
Philippines were initially made to wait to discover their fate but, after the action in Groups B and C concluded on Tuesday, their efforts proved to be enough for them to join Indonesia in the semis -- which always looked a likely scenario.
GROUP B
Wednesday, July 16
Cambodia 1-1 Laos
Saturday, July 19
Laos 0-3 Vietnam
Tuesday, July 22
Vietnam 2-1 Cambodia
An opening draw between Cambodia and Laos led to a relatively straightforward situation in Group B.
Once two-time defending champions Vietnam defeated Laos in their own campaign opener, there was no longer any chance of a tie for top spot.
A draw as always going to be enough to see Vietnam qualify, while only a victory would have seen Cambodia overtake them in first.
There was no other scenario in which Cambodia could advance with a draw in second place given their two-point haul would have been inferior to Philippines' three in the runners-up rankings -- and there was ultimately to be no big upset with Vietnam running out 2-1 victors, although the margin was certainly closer than expected.
Laos were already eliminated following their defeat to Vietnam.
GROUP C
Wednesday, July 16
Myanmar 4-4 Timor-Leste
Saturday, July 19
Timor-Leste 0-4 Thailand
Tuesday, July 22
Thailand 0-0 Myanmar
Heading into the final round of fgames, Group C was identical to Group B in the sense that it was Thailand who were currently firmly on course for the semifinals, unless the unthinkable happened in the form of defeat at the hands of Myanmar.
That would have seen Myanmar progress by finishing top with four points after their opening draw with Timor-Leste, which would have made things interesting given Thailand will then have had to vie for the best runners-up berth.
In that scenario, the final spot in the semifinals might have been decided by goal difference and perhaps even goals scored.
While Thailand were given a bit of a scare, a 0-0 draw -- while disappointing -- proved to be enough for them to progress as Group C winners at the expense of Myanmar.
Like Laos, Timor-Leste had already been eliminated before the final match day.